Well, OK. Not quite ACL/SAL. But it was absorbed into the SCL. Just curious- I don't want to buy a book. But was wondering- Is there a good web site for a little history about this company? Boxcab E50
Last operator was NELLO TEER Construction Co. The old man (Yes Virginia, like BERRY PINK of marbles fame, there was a Mr. NELLO TEER ), liked playing with trains and also wanted to get sand cheaply for the many aggregate plants he owned or used inthe area. The sand pits were down in Irwin near Dunn , that was the shop town for the D&S. Theyhad dieselized with BALDWINS, and ran them 'til just before the SAL takeover, Prior to that they used mainline decapods. In fact, in 1932 , which was in GREAT DEPRESSION they were only Class 1 railroad in the country to buy a new steamer. The N&W reached Durham on its line from Lynchburg. In order to keep turning traffic over to its then competitor the Southern , it used the D&S where possible to reach the Seaboard Airline. Even after the merger of SAL and ACL , they continued this routing to SAL trackage at Apex and ex ACL at Dunn. Overhead included piggyback traffic and through coal trains. Nello Teer built a headquarters in Durham , which was the north end of this 52 mile system. When the routing was no longer profitable for the big boys to use ; and also when Nello Teer Construction, (that incidentally was major player in the urbanization of the areas known as the TRIAD, and RESEARCH TRIANGLE, in North Carolina) didn't need it to have aan advantage it was sold. It had two Black and White EMD switchers named "BUll" and "Durham" at the time. It has been cut back to Durham -Apex. Their trackage on the north side of where it crossed SAL there is now a tank car facility of pretty large size. The LPG sit south of the SAL tracks there is still big receiver. Dunn shops are gone, the Durham Office building is no longer used by anyone connected with old railroad. The old circus loading piggy back ramp is still there unserved. There is still lots of track and hardware laying around down in the sand pits , as of ten years ago, but I don't know what is current. That's all for now. PJB
Can't believe that searching the web won't turn up some sort of site. All that I have located so far, is references to the RR name. So, good thing you posted today. It's 100% more than I could find. And 100% more than I knew! Thanks! Boxcab E50
Don't forget that Nello Teer used his many aggregates to assist him in his highway road building ventures, which lowered his costs so he could outbid others for contracts around the area! Harold
"...last train on July 5, 1979. Then were merged into CSX..." The word "then" fills a space of time in the article, the D&S merged into the SCL, which became part of CSX later.
Pat- I'd figured they must have gone into SCL/Family Lines. However, bridging well over a year with "then" seems to be a bit lengthy. And surely skips across an important step in history. "Then" seems as though something more immediate is happening. Boxcab E50
I last visited the D&S in ~1965. For a short line it was a first class operation. Believe at that time they had four Baldwin RS-12's and a fleet of 3-bay hoppers all meticulously maintained - all of the engines and a lot of those hoppers shined. The mainline trackage was also first class. Estimate that the rail was 100 lb. plus and talking to one of the trainmen he told me that they were allowed a top speed of 50 mph.
From photos I have seen over the years, it did look like a solid operation. Wasn't there an article about them, way back, in Railfan & Railroad magazine? My memory is saying there was... Boxcab E50
BoxcabE50 - There have been several articles on the D&S including, I believe R&R. I have about a 30 year accumulation of various model and fan magazines - which of course I don't have cataloged or even organized.
I subscribed to R&R, from day one, until about five years ago. It's all packed in boxes downstairs. I wonder if the magazine index search would tell me what issue? Too bad that it wouldn't also help move a mountain of boxes! Boxcab E50
Give me a few days, I'll look up some photos of a former D&S RS-12, sitting forlornly in the Kentucky woods. Took these a few years ago. I asked my son to stop by and see if it's still there. I believe I read somewhere that it belonged to the Louisville chapter of the NRHS. Frank
Yes, I've read about that RS-12 which I believe was sold to the ??Morehead & North Fork?? railroad. However with rail removal following abandonment I understand that the nearest live rails are four or so miles away. I also remember reading that the North Carolina Rail Museum was trying to acquire this same locomotive.
I hope there's a road way nearby? Moving it, unless they have some cash come in, or someone donates the use of equipment, (such as a lowboy and crane), could be expensive. Regardless of how they get it together, I hope this can be saved. Boxcab E50
For those interested in discussing the Durham and Southern there is a YAHOO group devoted to the railroad, where images of various elements of the operation can be found in the photo and files section along with the usual threads discussing the road. Good-Luck, PJB
This former railroad is a siding on my layout now. I grew up playing on with these tracks. Their all gone now from the CSX Double Main in Dunn to Burlington Mills in Erwin to Fuquay-Varina I think ? To the west, I live 500 feet from a N/S single track leaving Fayetteville N.C. headed north. To the east I live 5 miles from the Eastern Seaboard CSX Double Main Line. (North & South) I have pictures of the two switchers that use to run the Dunn / Erwin section of the Durham & Southern. Thanks for the memories, Cliff